Executive Director of Development, Corporate Engagement

The Executive Director of Development, Corporate Engagement serves as the unit fundraising lead and senior team member within the Office of the Vice President for Research, charged with advancing the University’s mission through strategic corporate partnerships and philanthropic initiatives. Reporting jointly to the Vice President for Research (VPR) and the Senior Assistant Vice President (SRAVP) of Principal Gifts & Strategic Initiatives, the Executive Director will plan a comprehensive engagement strategy that fosters innovation, secures major philanthropic investments, and strengthens UF’s position as a global leader in research and discovery.

This role offers a unique opportunity to build a robust corporate engagement and fundraising program for various programs within the Office of the Vice President for Research by cultivating high-impact relationships with industry leaders and corporate partners, providing strategic direction for fundraising initiatives, and stewarding long-term partnerships that advance the unit’s mission and research enterprise.

• Develop and lead the execution of a comprehensive, result-driven fundraising and engagement strategy for the Office of the Vice President for Research to increase philanthropic and research-related support from corporations and industry partners.
• Identify, initiate, cultivate, and steward relationships with key corporate prospects and donors, building long-term partnerships that align with unit and university priorities as well as corporate interests.
• Manage a portfolio of companies, build relationships, develop strategies, and market programs for companies to increase their research-wide engagement.
• Identify appropriate corporate contacts, initiate and attend visits with business executives to explore opportunities for industry, corporate, and research relationships.
• Organize and host on-campus visits for corporate representatives, facilitating meaningful interactions with faculty, researchers, and university leadership, including tours of research facilities and innovation hubs.
• Collaborate and work closely with Office of the Vice President for Research, Corporate & Foundation Relations team, the Interim Senior Assistant Vice President, unit-based corporate colleagues, and major gift teams to identify and support multi-faculty, cross-disciplinary initiatives with potential for large-scale funding opportunities.
• Provide the development and academic communities with information concerning grants available to the University. Propose methods and procedures for obtaining these grants and executing appropriate strategies for corporate support in coordination with the academic and development communities.
• Present the unit’s corporate strategies, as well as funding proposals, to appropriate representatives of these sectors.
• Create strategic connections between the Office of the Vice President for Research, University of Florida, and industry partners that foster innovation, enhance applied research, and generate value for both the university and our partners.
• Work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams across campus, connecting corporate partners with world class expertise and resources.
• Support faculty members on research grants requiring multi-disciplinary industry partners connecting key contacts and assisting managing relationships.
• Establish UF as a leader in world class innovation by cultivating relationships to facilitate research collaborations.
• Coordinate efforts across university departments to ensure a cohesive and seamless experience for corporate partners, managing strategies that align partnerships with UF’s mission promoting open communications for lasting relationships.
• Assess faculty research activities and areas of expertise to identify alignment with industry needs and proactively connect faculty with relevant corporate stakeholders for collaborative opportunities.

• Support the creation and maintenance of “industry front door” resources to streamline initial contacts to the Office of Research for general industry inquiries. This includes working with appropriate UF offices to maintain…